FAQs

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What advantages does propane have over other energy sources?

There are actually quite a few advantages to using propane as opposed to the other top home energy sources. For one thing, propane heating systems and appliances are extremely efficient, meaning that you’re only paying for the gas that you actually use. Also, you can use propane for tasks as diverse as drying clothes and heating the water in your swimming pool.

Propane is an environmentally friendly fuel as well, so you can use it without worrying about damaging the environment. And the majority of propane used in this country is produced on this continent, which helps to make America more energy-independent moving forward.

How safe is propane?

Propane gas is an extremely safe source of energy. Propane tanks are highly resistant to damage and must conform to strict government regulations. There are many regulations governing the placement of propane tanks as well, increasing the overall safety of the system. Also, as part of our service agreement with you, we will check periodically to make sure that all parts of your propane system and all of your propane appliances are functioning properly.

Is propane only used for heating?

No. While home heating is the most common way that propane is used, it is far from the only way. In fact, propane can power many of the standard appliances in your home, from your clothes dryer to your stove to your hot water heater. You can even use your central propane tank to power your outdoor gas grill. The more you use propane for, the more money you’ll save in the long run.

Do I need to be home every time I get a propane delivery?

You don’t need to be home for any propane deliveries following the initial one. Our delivery driver will simply leave a slip to alert you to the fact that your tank has been filled. However, if there is a new situation on your property that might impact delivery, such as a new septic tank installation or new power lines on his route to your tank, you should be there so that you can let the driver know so that he can make his delivery safely.

What should I do if I smell gas in my kitchen coming from my cook stove/range?

Call your propane company! You are probably out of gas and need it refilled or exchanged. Most often it is an empty tank that the odorant has concentrated in the bottom of and is releasing the smell into your home. If you go outside and turn off the empty tank, the smell should dissipate within 15 minutes or so. If you have turned off the empty tank and the smell does not go away, let your gas company know immediately.

What is this Hazmat Fee and why am I being charged?

Why am I renting your propane equipment?

By leasing our propane equipment, the Annual Cylinder Service Fee makes us responsible for the propane tank(s), the pigtail(s), and the regulator. If a malfunction should occur with the propane tank(s), pigtail(s), and/or regulator, it will be replaced by us at no charge to you. However, if the problem occurs beyond the regulator, we can fix it, but the cost(s) are not our responsibility.

What is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term used to describe the quality of the air inside a building. It usually doesn't include factors such as temperature, humidity, and air movement, though in some situations, an IAQ professional could consider these factors. For example, excessively dry air (low humidity) can result in nose bleeds, dry eyes and other unpleasant symptoms.

Generally air quality focuses on particulates and gases that can be present in the air. Gases can include radon and formaldehyde. Particulates include things like airborne particles, mold spores, viruses and bacteria. All of these elements in the air can cause adverse health effects on the occupants of a building or home.

How do I know what size of air conditioner I need?

HVAC contractors use Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) Manual J to calculate the correct size of air conditioner for your home. This manual may be purchased and you can do the calculations manually by following the instructions, or they can be calculated by software that uses the formulas from Manual J.

For the best results, you need to take complete measurements of your home. (A blueprint is enough for new construction.) This includes both width and length of each room, as well as height. You need to know the cubic volume of your home, because this is the amount of space that must be cooled.

How does outdoor air quality relate to indoor air quality?

Usually outdoor air pollution will be reduced by between 10 – 90% as a result of absorption by the building itself and the building’s ventilation filtration system. This means that a filtration system that isn't maintained properly can eventually lead to indoor pollution. Regular maintenance is recommended for both commercial and home heating and cooling systems, as both systems depend on drawing air into the building from outside.

Doesn't turning the heat down waste the energy required to warm the house back up?

Turning the heat down any time you plan on being away from home for more than four hours will save you money. It’s recommended that you have a programmable thermostat installed. That way your home is already comfortable when you return. It doesn't take that much energy to bring the temperature back up 6 – 8 degrees, but it does take a lot more energy to maintain that extra 6 – 8 degrees.

Heat pumps operate a little differently and take a lot longer to raise the temperature. It’s recommended that you purchase a programmable thermostat that is designed to specifically work with heat pump systems.

If you need assistance with installing a programmable thermostat, call you’ll need an HVAC contractor. They'll also help you find the right thermostat for your system and your personal needs.

Why has my air conditioner stopped cooling?

The first thing you should check is to see if the air conditioning unit is dirty. It is very important to keep the outside coils clean so the heat pressure doesn't rise too high. This could cause the pipes holding the coolant to burst, compressor failure or electrical overload. Fortunately, just cleaning the coils is often enough. You'll need to be extra vigilant when contaminants like cottonwood are floating through the air. They can clog up an air conditioner's air intake very quickly.

The inside coils are also very important. When they become dirty, they tend to ice over. This stops air from flowing through the coils, reducing and eventually stopping cooling entirely. The best way to prevent problems with the inside coils is to change the air filters regularly, though eventually it will be necessary to vacuum the coils out. Don't use a high pressure blower as this can flatten the coil fins or break them off.

If addressing these issues doesn't resolve the problem, it’s time to call a professional.

Are indoor air quality problems common?

Up to 30% of all commercial buildings suffer from serious indoor air quality concerns. Indoor home air tests across North America found that 96% of the homes tested had at least one indoor air quality problem. 86% of the homes tested had high levels of dust, pollen and viruses. 71% tested positive for potentially harmful chemicals and gases.

What do you mean when you call a heating system a "dual fuel" system?

When a heating system is designed to run on more than one type of fuel, it is called a dual fuel system. The most common dual fuel system involves combining a gas furnace and electric heat pump. Heat pumps are efficient during mildly cold weather, but begin losing their ability to heat a home as temperatures drop. If the home is equipped with a dual fuel system, the gas furnace can kick in and take over heating.

Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of my air conditioner breaking down?

Preventive maintenance is one of the smartest things you can do. It’s recommended that you keep both the outside coils and inside coils of your air conditioning system clean at all times.

It’s also recommended that you install your air conditioner in a shaded area. If it's too late for that, you should try to shade the unit in some way that won't restrict the airflow it. Direct sun on an air conditioner's outside condenser coil can cause it to overheat and create too much pressure. If this happens, the unit will shut off.

Another trick that can be used on extremely hot days is to place a mister over the back coil on the outside of the air conditioner. If your air conditioner has already cut out, let it rest for 20 minutes, then spray the coil with water before attempting to turn the air conditioner back on.

How serious are most indoor air quality problems?

The seriousness of an indoor air quality problem depends on the specific problem. If Legionnaires’ bacteria begin to multiply in the cooling system, the results can be deadly. The presence of radon gas can cause lung cancer. Long-term exposure to mold spores can cause lung damage, brain damage, cancer and even death. Combustion products such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, depression, memory loss, and if exposure lasts long enough, death.

Other indoor air quality concerns might seem far less important, but can still prove fatal if not attended to. The presence of bioaerosols (pollen, viruses, bacteria, insect parts, animal dander, etc.) can aggravate asthma and even precipitate a fatal asthma attack.

Indoor air quality is extremely important. Testing and installation of carbon monoxide detectors is recommended in homes that use natural gas or oil for heating and/or cooking.

Can a fireplace be an efficient way to heat a home?

Generally, fireplaces draw more heat out of the home than they create unless a special fireplace insert is installed that acts more like a wood-burning stove. It is important to use an insert that has a radiant glass door, as it increases the heating efficiency of the insert by up to 90%. When a blower is included, the heating efficiency goes up 74 – 92% as compared to a fire in a standard fireplace.

Both wood-burning and gas burning fireplace inserts are available. Call a heating contractor if you would like to explore this option. An expert can help you choose the right option for your home.

Who invented air conditioning?

Willis Carrier, a graduate of Cornell University's Masters of Engineering program, built the first air conditioning unit for a Brooklyn printing plant. The resulting even air temperature made it possible to print in four colors without misalignment of the inks. It wasn't until 1924 that Carrier's idea caught on for making movie theaters and department stores more comfortable in the summer months.

What should I do if I suspect my home or office has an indoor air quality problem?

If you and those around you feel ill while inside your home or office, but feel better when outside or elsewhere, you probably have an indoor air quality issue. One of the first things you should do is check the air filters on your HVAC system. Clean filters, especially HEPA filters, help to remove many particulates from the air.

Using bleach or some other home cleaning product to kill microbial contaminants is only a partial answer at best. Even though these biocides will kill molds and spores, they are toxic themselves.

A qualified HVAC technician will provide air and surface sampling. Both types of sampling are necessary to detect different types of toxic compounds that may be present in the air. Only then can you know what you are really dealing with and whether serious measures are needed.

A qualified indoor air quality expert uses both non-culturable air sampling and culturable air sampling to take a complete and accurate count of how many spores and other particulates are present. This also gives the expert an idea of how many of these particulates are able to reproduce. Surface sampling is used to detect mold on dry surfaces.

Should I close the heating registers in rooms I don't use?

It's okay to close a few heating registers, but be careful not to close more than 1/3 of the total registers in your home. A forced air system is designed for the size of your home, and when too many registers are closed off, it allows pressure to build up in the ducts. The blower fan has to work harder to push air through the registers that are open. This kind of wear and tear will cause the blower fan to wear out long before it should.

Is salt air harmful to air conditioners?

How important is it to make sure the ducts in my heating system don't leak?

Leaking ducts can cause more energy loss in a heating system than anything else. A duct inspection that pressurizes the duct system to identify if it has any leaks could be one of the smartest investments you could make. Making sure your ducts are sealed, connected and free from leaks can drop your energy bill anywhere from 5 -17%.

Should I be worried about the amount of noise my air condition makes when it starts up?

Most air conditioners are noisier when the air conditioning condenser unit first starts. This is because the compressor needs to build up pressure to operate. If the noise lasts more than 10 seconds, call a technician. HVAC techs will check for low refrigerant levels, compressor oil levels and other issues that might be occurring.

How often should ductwork be cleaned?

Clean your ductwork every three to five years. Make sure they are cleaned upon completion of any renovations on the duct system.

Ducts collect dust, bacteria and molds that are then transferred into the air as it moves through the rooms of your home. Routine cleaning can reduce allergy symptoms and some other unexplained symptoms, including as headache and fatigue.